Chapter 32
We arrived at Sinners’ Paradise through the private underground parking lot, where the sleek, dimly lit space hinted at the exclusivity of the place. When the elevator doors slid open to the first floor, the boys pointed out the line of patrons stretching along the sidewalk outside—people from all walks of life, all eager to get in. This place is more popular than Flamingo Hotel, and that’s saying something.
Alessandro was still in meetings, so the boys offered to show me around the place. As soon as we exited the elevator, I was overwhelmed by the immense size of the casino. Surrounded by a breathtaking scene of slot machines, shimmering and glimmering in a myriad of vibrant colors, and card tables alive with a buzzing energy. The air was thick with anticipation, the soft clink of chips mingling with the low hum of conversation and the occasional outburst of victory or defeat. Patrons, some with eyes locked in concentration and others with hopeful smiles, were vying for their chance at winning big. The air was filled with the lingering scent of luxury cologne and a subtle hint of cigar smoke, enhancing the captivating ambiance .
After we had a look around, the boys led me to the second floor, where the vibe shifted from high-stakes gambling to high-energy nightlife. As soon as we stepped off the escalator, the thumping bass of the music hit me like a physical force, reverberating through the walls and floor. Well-dressed businessmen gathered around the bar, engaged in lively conversations, while stylish women in expensive dresses hung on their arms.
Everywhere I looked, there was a sense of controlled chaos—a world where anything could happen, and probably would, knowing the family who ran this place. I wondered if the patrons knew exactly what this family was involved in. Would they care if they did or was that part of the appeal? The atmosphere crackled with a potent blend of thrill, danger, and magnetism, leaving no doubt that this was no ordinary casino. This was the Morettis’ world. And for the first time, I could see why it made them all so crazy.
The three of us discover a spot at a secluded and peaceful table in the VIP section, which offers a bird’s-eye view of the entire club. Ricky slides in beside me as Maddox takes the seat opposite. “You look sexy as fuck tonight, baby doll,” Ricky whispers in my ear, sending a scattering of goosebumps up my arms.
I smile softly, enjoying his praise more than I should. I took his advice and dressed up in a little black dress that hugs all the right places. My hair is up in a high sleek ponytail and my make-up is heavier than normal, with dark smoky eyes and red lips. Now I’m here, I’m glad I listened.
Alessandro approaches our table and nervous butterflies dance in my stomach. I can’t pinpoint whether it’s because we were summoned to his casino and I feel so damn out of place here or because of the way he so easily exudes confidence in his dark suit, as if he owns the entire establishment and looks so comfortable in this world. But either way, it puts me on edge. He has my brother by his side, the two of them demanding the attention of all they pass. Marco has certainly taken to his new role in the Moretti family like a duck to water. I’m relieved to see that Enzo is nowhere in sight.
“Everything under control?” Maddox asks.
“For now,” Alessandro mutters, sliding into the booth beside me, his arm snaking around my shoulders as he pulls me toward him. The weight of his arm presses down on me, not because it’s particularly heavy, but because I don’t want his arm possessively wrapped around me, telling every damn person in his club I belong to him. It’s bad enough I’m being forced to wear his ring. Why can’t he just act like his brothers and chill?
The lighting in this part of the club is low and moody, casting a shadow over our table. It’s only just past eleven, but I have seen more drug use tonight than in my entire life. I can’t understand how it’s so readily available to every person in the place. Or that’s what it seems like, anyway, but the boys steer clear of the stuff, and I’m grateful.
Marco’s taken the seat beside Maddox. He’s on edge, scanning us like he has something to say, but then he stops. I’m worried about him. Knowing he’s living with the Morettis and working so closely with the cruel leader makes me fear for his life. He drums his fingers on the table as he sips whiskey from a crystal tumbler. It could just be that Alessandro’s possessive behavior is making him uncomfortable.
I know it’s making me uncomfortable. I’m sandwiched in between him and Ricky, with nowhere to go.
“Enzo’s up to something,” he finally spits out, like the words have been on the tip of his tongue all night.
Alessandro’s body stiffens. “What makes you think that?” he snaps.
I give Marco my full attention, surprised he’s willing to talk business in front of me. From the moment I met him, I knew their papa was a shifty motherfucker, but I just assumed that came with the position of don. And the brothers were all privy to whatever shit he was up to, being Alessandro is his heir.
“He had a meeting today, one he didn’t want me to attend. He showed up on the other side of town. The D’Amico side.”
Maddox’s face hardens, creases forming on his forehead. “He went alone?”
“Valentina went with him, and from what I could gather, she lined it up.”
The tension in the air thickens, and I know even though they’re not saying as much in front of me, the boys aren’t happy about this fresh development. “Maybe you should start tracking him,” I throw out there for shits and giggles.
Ricky stifles a snicker, and I know he thinks I’m funny, but the others all glare at me. I know my role is to be seen and not heard, but that never stopped me.
“What?” I shrug. “Isn’t that what you do?”
“Lana,” Marco chastises in a disappointed tone.
I just smile sweetly back at him. He thought it was okay to put a tracking device in his little sister. Why not Enzo? If they can’t trust him, they need to do something.
I hear Dani’s high-pitched squeal before I see her. She struts through the crowd toward us, donning a gold sequined mini dress that beautifully showcases her curves, with the biggest grin I’ve ever seen on her face. “Hey, girl. This place is hectic, right?”
As I try to rise out of my seat so I can give her a hug, Alessandro quickly seizes my wrist. I give him a sharp look, silently telling him to leave me the hell alone if he doesn’t want me to cause a scene right here in his club. I’m not up for his bullshit tonight .
“Your friend can join us,” he growls out like he thought I was about to take off with her. How stupid do I look?
With an eye roll, I effortlessly break free from his hold and make a beeline toward my friend, flinging my arms around her. “You look super cute,” I compliment her, realizing I’ve never seen her out of her uniform.
“Fun change from our shitty uniform, hey?” She looks me over and forces me to do a spin in her arms, then whistles. “Look at yourself, girl. You’re hot. No wonder you’re surrounded by a harem of gorgeous men.”
I laugh at her dramatics. “Not quite.” I smirk cheekily, still wondering how this is my life now. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.” I take her hand and guide her back over to our table.
“Boys, this is Dani. Dani, this is Alessandro, Maddox, Ricky,” I point them out. “And my big brother, Marco.”
Marco, being the gentleman he is, stands up and extends his hand to her, and she willingly takes hold of it, becoming flushed under his attention. My brother is a handsome man, so I’m not all that surprised by her reaction. I’ve seen girls like her have it hundreds of times before.
“What will you ladies have to drink? I’ll take care of it,” offers Ricky, running his hands up my arms, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. Even with Alessandro being a possessive dickhead tonight, he’s still touching me whenever he can. It’s like he can’t help himself.
“Umm, a cocktail.” She shrugs shyly under all their attention, and I get it; the four of them would be intimidating as hell to meet all at once. “What are you drinking, Lana?”
Alessandro pulls me back down next to him, glowering at my friend. Marco offers her the seat beside him with a kind smile. She happily accepts it .
I glance at the cocktail glass on the table in front of me. It’s still full. Ricky got it for me earlier, but I’m not in the mood to drink. Plus, I feel like I need to keep my wits about me tonight. There’s a tension in the air between the boys that I don’t like. Something’s about to go down, I just know it. “Apple martini,” I suggest.
Her eyes light up with excitement. “Yeah, I’ll have two of those. I need to catch up.”
Alessandro studies her with an intensity I don’t appreciate. I can already tell he doesn’t like her. But tough luck, he doesn’t get to pick my friends. “Dani, how do you know my fiancée?”
She smiles at him cautiously. “We used to work together at the diner. How do you know her?” she throws right back at him, forgetting who she’s addressing and finding her usual confidence.
I feel him straighten, not liking the way she spoke to him, but he doesn’t say as much. He has to know how sus this looks. I was working alongside this girl a month ago, and now I’m shacked up with him. “We dated a few summers back and just recently reconnected.”
She laughs, her attention coming to me. “I knew I’d heard your name before. Shit, girl, you got him back.”
I groan, remembering telling her more than I should have on a particularly long shift. But the truth is, I never stopped thinking about him. He was my what-if. What if things were different and my papa hadn’t sent me away. What if he wasn’t so much older than me. What if he came looking for me. All those options are better than the reality.
Alessandro moves in closer, dropping his lips to my earlobe. “Well, that’s just adorable. You missed me so much you told your friend about me.”
I elbow him in the ribs, making sure to really dig it in so he backs the hell off. “That was before I knew who you really are,” I snap back, my voice low so only he can hear my disgust. I’m not letting him think he means something to me. He did, but that was before I knew the truth. Before I knew why he was chasing after me.
Every time I think about our past now, I feel sick thinking about how na?ve I must have looked to him. The little Havardi princess with no idea who she really is. He took advantage of my innocence in more ways than one. I should have known better. Why would a man like him be interested in a college student like me? But he sure had his reasons.
He’s not deterred by my bony elbow, instead shifting even closer as he sinks his teeth into my earlobe, and I suck in a sharp breath to stop from making it obvious to the entire table that he just bit me—and I kind of liked it. The arm that was draped over my shoulder dusts down my arm slowly, eventually landing on my bare thigh. The padding of his fingertips running along the hem of my short dress, back and forth, making my breath catch in my chest. He’s teasing me, but he wouldn’t go any further right here at the table, would he?
Ricky returns with a tray of apple martinis, and Dani’s eyes light up like all of her Christmases have come at once. “Thank you,” she purrs, taking one off the tray before he has time to place it on the table. If I were her, I’d be desperate to drink myself silly as well, block out all the awkwardness Alessandro is creating.
Ricky returns to the seat next to me, and I don’t miss the look of desire in his eyes when he notices how close Alessandro’s hand is to my bits as he continues to gently nudge my dress up higher. Ricky’s hand intertwines with mine, making sure I know he’s right here as well. I glance across the table and my eyes find Maddox’s there, filled with hungry craving. I know how he feels. Having all of their attention on me has me heating up.
As the conversation flows around us, mostly run by Dani, Alessandro edges closer, shoving my dress up as he goes. I feel exposed, knowing not only Ricky can see what he’s doing, but anyone who cares to pass by as well. He pretends to act interested in Dani and her story about the cab ride over here, but I know he’s not listening at all. And now neither is Ricky or Maddox.
My heart kicks up a beat as my cheeks flush with warmth. I pick up my drink and take a sip just so I can reposition myself, pulling down my dress as I move. I have no idea what the fuck he’s playing at, we haven’t had a civil conversation in days. He doesn’t get to touch my pussy, especially not here with just a table between my brother and one of my good friends. But it doesn’t mean I’m not majorly turned on right now. Cause I am. Images flash through my mind, dirty deprived scenes of them all taking turns in fucking me right here on the table while people continue on around us. A flood of arousal coats my panties. What the hell is wrong with me?
As soon as I’m done with my cocktail, his large frame cocoons me again. There is no escaping him tonight. He’s possessive, Alessandro, on steroids. And my fucked-up body has decided she quite likes it. Not likes it, fucking loves the attention, and she wants more.
I need to get my mind out of the gutter and back onto what I’m really supposed to be doing tonight—catching up with my friend. I give her my full attention. Not sure how she’s done it, but Dani has downed both drinks, all while barely taking a breath from talking. “Hey, girl, I don’t know when this wedding is, but I better be your bridesmaid. Alessandro, you can’t let the poor girl walk down the aisle without her bestie.” She turns to my brother, who, surprisingly, seems quite interested in her. Maybe more has been going on than I thought while I was distracted with the brothers. “Isn’t that right, Marco?” she asks.
Marco nods, his lips turning up at the sides. He’s smitten with her, I can see it written all over his face. How cute. “I have to agree with Dani. You have all of us, let Harley have a friend at the wedding.” The way my brother sides with her so easily makes me think they’ve had this exact conversation before, and Alessandro was against it.
“Guess that all depends on Harley.” Alessandro’s voice is lighter than I expected it to be. Playful even. Why is he enjoying himself? Or is it just the compromising position he now has me in that’s making tonight so fun for him. His fingers dust along my thigh.
“I’d love to have her there.” I grin at my friend, genuinely happy for the first time in so long. And really praying he’s not messing with me.
His lips drop to my ear again. “What are you willing to give me in return, princess?” His hand slips under my dress this time, and I know what he wants. Fuck, I knew there would have to be a catch. His fingers stroke over my silky thong, sliding right between my thighs. They’re still shut tight, but that doesn’t stop him forcing his hand between them. I suck in a breath, knowing he can feel how wet I am for him because my body betrays me.
“Well, it’s settled then. I’m your maid of honor.” She claps with excitement. “When’s the wedding?”
Alessandro’s finger slips under my panties and sinks deep inside of me. Oh, shit. A tingle runs through me. I maintain a smile, attempting to hide the impact he has on me. I need someone on my side, and although Marco will be there, he’s more aligned with the Moretti family now. “Good girl. Give me what I want, then you can have what you want.” His breath gently brushes against the back of my neck, his lips sucking tenderly in a kiss that will leave a mark.
Ricky’s hand that was laced with mine moves to his thigh, and I brush over the hard length in his pants. Oh God, what am I getting myself into?
“It’s next Saturday,” I squeak out when no one else answers her. We’re all too distracted. Maddox catches my attention again. I can’t take my eyes off his rugged face. He’s so perfect right now, all needy and wanting me.
“Shit, girl, how the hell am I supposed to find a dress in time?” she complains.
“I know a girl. I can sort it for you,” Alessandro explains, pushing another finger inside of me, tormenting me. I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes. This man knows exactly what he’s doing, lightly flicking over my G-spot in a way that is almost torturous with our current company. “Marco, why don’t you show our new friend around the club, take her upstairs to the top bar. I’m sure she would like it up there.”
“Are you shitting me? No one gets to go up there,” she squeals, way too excited.
“Sure,” he agrees, giving Alessandro a look I don’t like. Like he understands why he’s trying to get rid of my friend.
And I’m just as disappointed. I wanted to catch up with my friend tonight to see if she can help me. But I already know that’s why Alessandro is being the way he is tonight. He’s not dumb. There was no way he was ever going to let me be alone with her. I’m surprised I was allowed out of the house, and he even let her in this place. But I guess that’s how he works his manipulation. This way he’s done what he said and let me see my friend. He’s cunning, I’ll give him that.
Marco holds out a hand for her, and the two of them wander off into the crowd together. He drops his head closer to her, whispering something, and she giggles. Dani is happier than I think I’ve ever seen her. Good for her. At least someone is having a fun night.